"Dead Stars" is a narrative short story written by Paz Marquez Benitez. It is about a bachelor in his 30s, Alfredo Salazar, who is engaged to Esperanza, a woman gifted with the aptitude of consistent beauty. His feelings for his fiancée starts to fade as he starts to fall for his neighbor named Julia Salas. Later on, Julia learned about Alfredo and Esperanza's engagement. Alfredo can't decide whether he should follow what he "wants to" or what he "has to". Esperanza knew about Alfredo's romantic feelings towards Julia therefore she encouraged him to cancel the wedding. Despite Alfredo's feelings for Julia, he still married Esperanza. 8 years had gone by, Alfredo went on a business trip to Julia's hometown to find a woman named Brigida Samuy. He meets Julia once again but as he stared and touched her, he realized that he no longer has feelings for her and what he felt before is now like a dead star, long extinguished yet still in their appointed places in the heavens.
Paz Marquez-Benitez, born in March 3, 1984, is a short-story writter, educator, and editor. Her outstanding career and her significant contributions as a writer helped the advancement of woman in professional fields.
She is known the most by her short story “Dead Stars”. Despite having small collection of works, she is still considered as an important figure in the Philippine Literature.
Marquez-Benitez became a teacher in the English Department at the University of the Philippines. She taught many prominent Filipino writers such as Francisco Arcellana, Bienvinido Santos, Loreto Paras Sulit, and Paz Latorena.
In 1918, Paz and her husband Francisco Benitez founded the Philippine Educational Magazine wherein they produced educational magazines for teachers. Paz took over as the editor of the journal after her husband’s death in 1951. In 1919, she founded the first women’s magazine in the country called the “Woman’s Home Journal”.
Paz Marquez-Benitez is one of the seven founders of the Philippine Women’s College now Philippine Women’s University.
Aside from “Dead Stars” she also wrote “A Night In The Hills”.
